Words Matter: The Dangerous Illusion Behind “Mass Incarceration”

By Dr. Eric M. Wallace

In recent remarks, Brandon Johnson argued that “mass incarceration” will not solve the violence crisis in Chicago. On the surface, that may sound reasonable—even compassionate. But beneath the language lies a deeper problem: a fundamentally flawed way of understanding both crime and justice.

The phrase “mass incarceration” itself is a rhetorical sleight of hand. It reframes the issue in a way that obscures reality. We do not incarcerate groups indiscriminately. We arrest and imprison individuals who have committed criminal acts. To speak as if society is arbitrarily sweeping up the innocent is to misrepresent the nature of law enforcement and, more importantly, to shift attention away from the real victims—those who suffer from violence in their communities.

Words matter because they shape how we think. And how we think determines how we act.

By focusing on “mass incarceration,” the conversation is redirected away from the central question: What is the proper role of government in dealing with crime? A biblical worldview offers a clear answer. Scripture teaches that governing authorities exist to uphold justice by protecting the innocent and punishing wrongdoing. The Apostle Paul writes, “for he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:4, ESV). This is not cruelty; it is justice.

The book of Proverbs reinforces this principle repeatedly: “When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers” (Proverbs 21:15, ESV). Justice, properly applied, is not only necessary—it is good.

Yet the modern progressive approach to crime often reflects what economist Thomas Sowell has described as the “unconstrained vision.” In this framework, human behavior is largely shaped by external systems—poverty, inequality, environment—and therefore the solution to crime lies primarily in reforming those systems. Crime becomes less about moral agency and more about circumstance.

This view leads to policies that minimize accountability and emphasize mitigation over enforcement. Even the concept of incarceration itself is sometimes treated as part of the problem rather than a necessary response to it.

But this is where the unconstrained vision collides with both reality and Scripture.

The Bible does not present human beings as morally neutral victims of their environment. It teaches that sin originates in the heart. Jesus said, “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder…” (Mark 7:21–22, ESV). This is a sobering truth: crime is not merely a product of broken systems—it is also the result of broken people.

That does not mean external conditions are irrelevant. It does mean they are not ultimate.
A more realistic understanding—what Sowell calls the “constrained vision”—recognizes that human beings are flawed. Because of that, society must deal in trade-offs, not utopian solutions. Laws exist not to perfect humanity, but to restrain evil and preserve order.
This is precisely the role of responsible government.

To diminish the role of incarceration is to ignore one of the most basic tools of justice: deterrence and protection. The threat of punishment can restrain wrongdoing, and the removal of dangerous individuals from society protects the innocent. Proverbs again speaks plainly: “If you strike a scoffer, the simple will learn prudence; if you rebuke a man of understanding, he will gain knowledge” (Proverbs 19:25, ESV). Consequences matter—not only for the offender, but for those watching.

To be clear, none of this negates the need for compassion, rehabilitation, or second chances. The Gospel itself is a message of redemption. But redemption does not eliminate justice—it presupposes it. Grace is meaningful precisely because wrongdoing is real.

What is troubling about the current rhetoric is that it often elevates concern for offenders while minimizing concern for victims. Communities plagued by violence are not asking for theoretical debates about systems; they are asking for safety. They are asking for justice.
And justice requires clarity.

When leaders suggest that incarceration is the problem, rather than part of the solution, they risk undermining the very structures that keep communities secure. The result is not compassion—it is confusion. And confusion in matters of justice leads to disorder.

Scripture warns against this kind of moral inversion: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20, ESV).

The crisis of violence in our cities will not be solved by rhetorical reframing or ideological assumptions about human nature. It requires a return to truth—truth about justice, truth about government, and truth about the human heart.

Because when we misunderstand the problem, we inevitably choose the wrong solution.

And our communities pay the price.

Dr. Eric M. Wallace, author of the new book, The Heart of Apostasy: How The Black Church Abandoned Biblical Authority for Political Ideology--And How to Reclaim It, is a trailblazing scholar, dynamic speaker, and passionate advocate for faith-based conservatism. With a distinguished academic background and an unwavering commitment to biblical truth, Wallace has become a leading voice challenging cultural and political narratives that conflict with a biblical worldview.

Wallace holds postgraduate degrees in biblical studies (M.A., ThM, Ph.D.), Wallace is the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in biblical studies from Union-PSCE (now Union Presbyterian Seminary). His scholarship and ministry experience equip him to address today’s most pressing sociopolitical issues through the lens of faith, reason, and historical accuracy.